Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

with three other doctors,” he said, leading the way into the kitchen. “They won’t suffer. I left Aspen Creek a while ago, and I’ve found now that I’ve returned I can’t settle in. So I thought I’d try someplace closer than Texas.”
    Adam accepted a steaming cup and blew on it thoughtfully. “You mean you are petitioning to join my pack?”
    Samuel’s smile, which hadn’t left his face since he opened the door, widened even farther. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m going lone wolf—you’ll probably get the official letter informing you of that from Bran sometime this week.”
    I left them to it. They weren’t paying any attention to me anyway. I couldn’t get the dress off easily without help, but I pulled a pair of sweats on over the top of it. A loose sweatshirt covered my broken arm, strap-bearing torture device and all. Shoes were harder, but I found an old pair of tennis shoes that I hadn’t untied and pulled them on my feet over a pair of ankle socks.
    When I went back out to the living room, both men were still involved in one of those pleasant but deadly conversations that usually ended up badly. They stopped speaking when I opened the front door, but as soon as I closed it behind me, I heard them start up again.
    I was driving the van, because my Rabbit didn’t have power steering. I had to pull over a few miles from home so I could use the cell phone.
    â€œStefan,” I said. “Your parts are here. I’ve got a broken arm, so you’ll have to do all the work—but I can talk you through it.”
    â€œHow did you break your arm, Mercy?” he asked.
    â€œA werewolf tossed me against a giant packing crate while I was trying to rescue a frightened young girl who’d been kidnapped by an evil witch and a drug lord.”
    â€œIt sounds interesting,” Stefan said. “I’ll meet you at your garage.”
    See. Some people believe me.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s Imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Praise for
    M OON C ALLED
    â€œAn excellent read with plenty of twists and turns. Her strong and complex characters kept me entertained from its deceptively innocent beginning to its can’t-put-it-down end. Thoroughly satisfying, it left me wanting more.”
    â€”Kim Harrison, New York Times bestselling
author of A Fistful of Charms
    â€œPatricia Briggs always enchants her readers. With Moon Called she weaves her magic on every page to take us into a new and dazzling world of werewolves, shape-shifters, witches, and vampires. Expect to be spellbound.”
    â€”Lynn Viehl, USA Today bestselling
author of the Darkyn series
    â€œA suspenseful read that will have you on the edge of your seat as you burn through the pages. Ms. Briggs weaves paranormal and mystery together so deftly you can’t put the book down. The cast of characters is wonderfully entertaining, and Mercy’s emotional struggles will pull on your heart-strings. For lovers of the paranormal, this is a must-read.”
    â€” Romance Junkies
    â€œA strong story with multidimensional characters…Mercy is, at heart, someone we can relate to.”
    â€” SFRevu
    â€œI’ve never been disappointed by one of [Patricia Briggs’s] books and this one is no exception. Mercy’s world is an alternate universe much like Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake books…or the Buffyverse or more recently the Kim Harrison books… Moon Called ends on a high note and leaves you wanting more. Like a good book should.”
    â€” Fresh Fiction
    â€œFans of Kim Harrison’s Dead Witch Walking are sure to enjoy this fast paced, creature-feature-packed suspense story. Mercy’s no-nonsense approach and quick wit coupled with a strong story line and interesting subplots make for a thoroughly entertaining read.”
    â€” Monsters and Critics
    â€œMercy’s a compelling protagonist…The story hums along like a well-tuned engine, keeping the reader engaged through the tumultuous climax.”
    â€” Romantic Times
    â€œA really good story…exciting, interesting, and not always